I’ve taken the cat’s attention and she’s stunned; one of my long hairs had curled itself on her hip. I am a loose woman and my hairbrush is like a road-sweeper. Old is catching up; I’m slowing down, almost a snail, an underwater creature. But, I am entirely happy – my dreams are returning and staying.

Someone said something on a debate show the other morning about people being miserable; all the phone-in chat was about how bad the world is and how they couldn’t get over the depressing negativity that it could never have a good ending.

Read Full Post

Sadly, my parents were burgled earlier this week. Amazingly, we all know it was the boy next door. Suprisingly the police marched him round to my mums house in an unofficial line up for my sister, who interupted his spree, to identify. Unfortunately she couldn't. Luckily, he only got away with £180 and did not hurt my mums dog.

Having failed my ovulation test, and having not achieved some new level of deep spiritual awareness about a newly-created life inside me, I decided this morning that I definitely wasn't pregnant so spent the day on the beach getting sloshed.

This, I confess, is one of my favourite ways to pays the time. I do it often. Not shamefully often, but often enough. I consider my inability to stop drinking after one glass of wine an inherited trait, much like being short. Asking me to give it up would be like expecting me to acquire supermodel levels of tallness when I am already fully grown.


Read Full Post

I'm still floating, still grinning to myself, scaring the cats, still wondering what on earth this all means, how to integrate it into my life. I have asked some trusted advisers for their advice, regarding an agent for example. This makes me more attractive, right? (In publishing-speak only!). Even if I am that dreaded short-story-writer-no-not-planning-to-write-a-novel! But I would like to have an agent, someone interested in my writing, someone nudging me a little every now and then, someone who knows what the next steps might be. There is so much here that is a mystery to me. When I tell people I studied physics, they look at me with wonder, as if it is another planet whose language is known only to the select few. Well, I feel that way about the publishing industry: I don't know the culture, don't know the signs and symbols. A great agent is a translator, explaining what certain gestures mean, what the words and phrases stand for. I would be very happy to have that in my life. Will keep you updated.

In the meantime, a few deadlines for you:

Read Full Post

He's more or less right in terms of mileage but I remember from last time that Cornwall has all these winding lanes and no proper signage, so what looks OK on the map ends up taking ages. How easy can it be to spot Gusti Veor, or St Columb Minor ? Not to mention Tumuli.

Where we're headed isn't even in Porth itself. It makes sense, I suppose, that a barn would be out in the countryside



Read Full Post

Trouble is, the victims aren't the only ones getting their kit off. Police detective Eve Dallas gets naked, too, when she falls for smouldering sophisticate Roarke. So far so Joan Collins. Some, me included, might suspect she's letting her hormones get the better of her and doubt her credentials for getting the job done. Especially when he's a prime suspect.

( started 21st March but forgot to post it)

Read Full Post

The gang at Strictly Writing would like to take this opportunity to wish all our lovely readers a very Happy Easter. We shan’t be posting again until next Tuesday, by which time we’ll have no doubt put on six pounds each and acquired numerous zits (it’s such a lie that you don’t get them as an adult), having scoffed our way through various packets of hot-cross buns and boxes of chocs…

So, now would seem a good time to reassess our blog which, thanks to all your support, has gone from strength to strength since we set it up in January. Is there anything you would like to see more of? Any types of people you would like to see guest blog? All suggestions most welcome in the comments section below.

In fact, how about putting yourselves forward for the special ‘Strictly Writing Reader Guest Blog Slot Competition’! (try saying that after a few drinks…) Just write 500 words on any subject to do with writing or reading – have a good rant or a gentile discussion, whatever you like as long as it is tempered with good humour. Simply email Samantha (see the link on her profile) with a line or two about your selected topic and the SW team will pick out a winner. Not only will the chosen one have their piece posted up in June, they will also win a signed copy of our very own Rebecca Connell’s recently published debut novel, The Art of Losing.

Read Full Post

The mugs were lined up on the kitchen counter, two-by-two, heading into Easter with a bag of giant chocolate buttons inside eight of them. 175grms; each gift would have cost me £1.50, including the mugs, and the kids would have more chocolate than in an Easter egg that cost an arm and a leg…though with the credit crunch the prices are going down.

Whatever made me think I could buy Easter presents in February?

Read Full Post

When I Twittered last week about keeping a writing scrapbook, it seemed I was the only one who did, and it led to lots of people asking exactly what I put in them. Well, this kind of thing:

Read Full Post

I spent the weekend at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival and, once again, had a fantastic time. The weather was gorgeous, the location (Christ Church college) both beautiful and convenient, and attendance at nine events, shoe-horned into a little less than forty-eight hours, saw the setting of a new personal record!

The highlights included an extremely entertaining debate between children’s writers Helena Pielichaty and Penny Dolan (Penny arguing in favour of fantasy in children’s books, whilst Helena championed reality), a wonderful talk by former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, and a moving presentation by ex-Royal Marine, Pen Farthing, who not only managed to rescue a large number of mistreated dogs while serving in Afghanistan, but has also now set up the charity Nowzad Dogs to continue the good work. You can read more about Pen's experiences (and help the dogs by doing so) in his brilliant book, One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Helmand.


Read Full Post